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Brooks Gremmels. Photo courtesy of CMRA.

By John Ulrich

Racer, CMRA Board
member, businessman and noted philanthropist Brooks Gremmels died Sunday in
Tyler, Texas. He was 70 years old.

Gremmels had fought pancreatic cancer for about a year and half, according to
his friend Norm McDonald.

Over the years Gremmels helped revitalize CMRA, serving on the Board of
Directors and sponsoring events, classes and racers. He also bought and rebuilt
the town of Ben Wheeler, Texas, putting people to work and turning it into a
tourist destination complete with a motorcycle museum and other attractions.

He also provided college scholarships to good students who needed help
continuing their education.

According to family friend Steve Harvanek, “Brooks celebrated his 70th birthday
December 15th in New York with his family. January has been a tough month for
Brooks. January 4th Brooks suffered a stroke and was in ICU in Tyler, Texas for
13 days. He survived the stroke with only speech impairment. He was moved to
rehab. After two days in rehab he then suffered kidney failure. Now he was
moved back to the hospital, renal unit. Attempts throughout last week were not
successful to regain kidney function.

“Brooks did not want to be connected to a machine that didn’t run on gasoline.
The decision was made Friday to stop all treatment. Brooks was moved Friday to
24-hour hospice care in Tyler.”

According to Harvanek, Brooks’ wife “Rese took his dogs to see him at hospice
before he died. Godspeed -- Brooks Gremmels.”

According to McDonald, a private funeral will be held for family members this week,
followed by a public celebration of life and memorial party on February 16th in
Ben Wheeler, Texas.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

THIS JUST IN FROM CMRA:

The date of Brooks Gremmels memorial party has been changed from February 16th to February 19th. It will still be held in Ben Wheeler, Texas starting @ noon. Please get the word out as soon as you can.

The CMRA’s first race weekend falls on the 16th and as soon as they realized that, they made the change.

Thanks!

Nancy Selleck

Administrator

Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association (CMRA)

More from CMRA:

Sorry, I had a typo…it’s Sunday, February the 9th!!! For Brooks Celebration! 9th